Improvement in portable shields for infantry or artillery



2 Sheets-Shea 2 M. $AVIEB5.

Portable Shield for Troops.

No. 38.845. Patented June 9, 1863 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

inna-senses, or s11A'W'NilE'roW1v, ,KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENTJN PORTA BL'l-I SHIELDS FOR INFANTRYYIORI-ARTILLERY.

' Specification forming-partof Letters .Patent No. 3 8.845 dated June 9,1863, antedated January 25, 1863.- r

T o aIZZ whom; it may concern.-

-Be' it known that I,- MILToN Snv E'Rs, of Shawneetown, Johnson county,Kansas, have invented a new and useful'Portable Breast Work and I dohereby declare the following to be a-full, clear, and exact descriptionthere.

of, reference being hadto the annexed draw? in'gs,- mal 'ing part ofthis-specification.

, y invention'relates to the provision-oi" a.

large metallic shield supported upon wheels, and adapted for'immediateuseunder sudden surprise or in ahostile district;l,and the improvement'particularly consistsin the useot an adjustable head-guard, constructedand ap-" plied as hereinafter explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im-. provement. Figs. 2 and 3 areside views, and Fig. 4. a top view,.showing different applications ofthe invention. 4

The-tongue A, cross-trees B B, axletree O, houndsD D, and wheels E Itmay be substantially similar to the same parts ,of a common wagon; but Iprefer to make my axletree in the represented cylindrical form, and tosecure the wheels and tongue upon it by-collars F and set-screws G, forconvenience of packagefor shipment or otherwise. The point of the tongueAis supported by a single pilot wheel, H, .placed under control of thedriver by means of a Wrench, 1-.

. J j are seat. and foot-rests fdr the driver.

The team may be hitched at the points R to pull'either way. 4 l Theshield 01'- breast is formed as follows: 'K is a rectangular plate ofstout boiler-iron, which plate rests by one edge upon the ground, and issupported at a suitable inclination by means of rodsL, hinged to axle A.1' 7 VM is ahead-guard hinged to upper part of plate K, so as to beelevated to any desired extent for the discharge of musketry.

acres.

' N are loop-holes, which may be clos'able by screw plugs n mother-wise.

O is'awinch and tackle for elevation of the shield. I v P Q are catchesfor securing two or more shields together. When desired, the foot of theshield may be supported upon a slight embankment, S. g Operation: On themarch,..thc shield K is brought to a horizontal position, (see Fig. 3,)and may be used to carry men or baggage. One or more spans of horses arehitched at places R, and t-he'machine is drawn forward,

On the march, a

the pilot-wheel preceding. number of portable breast works maybeadvanced en echelon, and on the word of command thewhole may be wheeleda quarter round and united together in a few seconds by the catches P.Q, so as to form a continuous breast-work. One hundred and sixtybreast-.

worksone pole wide will inclose a space of ten,

shield upon a slight embankment, S.

For cannon-firing, a temporary port-hole,

T, maybe made by a slight traverse of two,

contiguous shields, (see Fig. 4,) andthe open ing may bequickly closedagain by restoring the shields. to line.

I claim as new andof my invention herein- The adjustable head-guard M,constructed as described, and applied to the portable shield K in themanner and for the purposes shown and explained.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set myhand.

- M. sAviERs.

Witnessesz.

Gno. H-.KNIGHT, I. T. MELOHER.

Whenever time permits, great addi tional advantage will arise bysupporting the-

